CNOOC Limited announced the signing of two production sharing contracts with the Indonesian regulator SKK Migas for the exploration of the Gaea and Gaea II blocks, located in West Papua. These contracts also include the British company EnQuest, which will act as the main operator, and Agra, holding a minority stake. The agreement covers a total area of about 12,000 square kilometres, both onshore and offshore, near the Tangguh liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.
An initial three-year commitment
According to the agreed terms, the first exploration phase will last three years. During this period, seismic studies and exploratory drilling will be carried out to assess the gas resource potential. The Gaea and Gaea II blocks were awarded in April 2025 by the Indonesian government after a tender process that confirmed EnQuest as the operator.
The consortium formed around the project reflects a precise distribution of interests. EnQuest holds 40% of operating shares, while Agra owns 20% of non-operating shares. The Tangguh project partners, including BP Exploration Indonesia Limited, MI Berau B.V., ENEOS Xplora Inc., CNOOC Southeast Asia Limited, Indonesia Natural Gas Resources Muturi Inc. and KG Wiriagar Petroleum Ltd., collectively hold 40% of non-operating shares.
CNOOC among Tangguh partners
Wholly owned subsidiaries of CNOOC Limited hold 5.56% of non-operating interests in these two blocks. This participation strengthens the presence of the Chinese group in Indonesia, already active through its involvement in the Tangguh project, one of the country’s main liquefied natural gas production hubs.
The Tangguh project, operated by BP, is a strategic infrastructure for Indonesian LNG exports. The Gaea and Gaea II blocks, located nearby, could offer synergies in terms of infrastructure and logistics. The timeline for the next steps will depend on the results of the exploratory campaigns to be launched during the first contractual phase.
